Droning noise?

[KarenJ]

Hi All

Car passed it's MOT last week and I promised it (the car) if it did pass I would treat it to some alloys.

So I have a second hand set of 17" 10 spokes and it looks very cool, no rubbing or scraping in the arches which is fab.

The only thing is that since they have been on, a really annoying droning noise happens at 50-55mph (dissapears after that) and I think it is coming from the front of the car?

What could this be? (Noise was not there with normal wheels on)

 

[EvilKinevil]

sounds like you may have a wheel bearing on the way out.

pretty cheap to replace about £6 plus fitting

 

[KarenJ]

could that have happened by putting the new wheels on though?

 

[Steve_B]

I've had tyres cause droning noises at certain speeds. When I replaced them because they were worn the noise went away.

 

[f17th]

It could be the wheel bearing thats on its way out causing the droning noise.

Did you have the wheels balanced before getting them fitted to the car ?


I recently had to replace a tyre because it was causing a droning noise,

Ended up having a couple of flat spots on the tyre, and was a Pirelli

 

[SHADY-NINJA]

jack the car up and give the wheel a side to side whiggle.
if you notice any play then the bearings are on the way.
if you are going to change one you might as well change the lot as mine seemed to go at the same time on my Golf Gti Mk2 (back in the days)

 

[bezza]

most likley wheel bearing, however...

had similar scenario on mine...when driving down the road, put ur clutch in and "free coast" see if the noise goes away. if so, its gearbox related.
And in my case, it was the main shaft bearing in the box.


^^ that is an extreme case though!

If the noise is still there when the cluth is down, check for play in the wheel as shady said.

 

[KarenJ]

Cheers Guys

BF will have a look tomorrow for me.

 

[KarenJ]

Joy....

old wheels back on and no noise.

So now I have to keep my standard ones and sell the recently purchasaed alloys....

 

[Muttley]

Almost certainly the tyres, then. Get new tyres for the alloys and try again?

 

[Steve_B]

Joy....

old wheels back on and no noise.

So now I have to keep my standard ones and sell the recently purchasaed alloys....

You could try putting a pair of the alloys on the rear of the car and then taking it for a run, then swap to the other pair. If the noise comes back with one pair on but not the other then you know that the noise comes from one of that pair. You can then narrow it down by swapping one of the noisey pair, if the noise goes then it was the wheel that you took off, if it stops it the one that's still on the car. You can then check that wheel / tyre out to see if there's anything wrong with it like a damaged tyre and get it changed. May save you having to sell the wheels.

Not sure if this makes sense

 

[KarenJ]

I think so

Yes, I know what you mean - there is no noise with the standard wheels on. Boyfriend thinks it might be just touching the suspension strut (?) so we might try a pair of 5mm spacers on the front just to bring it out a teeny tiny bit...

...worth a go I guess?

I am slightly about this as no rubbing on full lock etc when we tried them and the noise only happens at 55mph)

 

[bezza]

if the wheel was touching the top strut you would hear the noise at any speed surely?

 

[KarenJ]

Yes - this is what I have said - I really do not understand it?

Old wheels are back on - trying 5mm spacers at the wekend to see if this will work ?